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Long-denied shoppers enter the Polaris Fashion Place mall on May 12 as Ohio retailers were allowed to reopen for the first time in nearly two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.(Photo: Fred Squillante/Dispatch)

State Health Director Dr. Amy Acton signed a measure Wednesday evening pleading with Ohioans to help save the lives of loved ones -- and strangers -- as coronavirus remains ready to kill.

As announced Tuesday by Gov. Mike DeWine, Acton signed an urgent health advisory entitled “Ohioans Protecting Ohioans” to free the state from travel restrictions remaining from stay-at-home orders.

The document strongly encourages the elderly and ill to remain home to avoid contracting COVID-19 while also asking others to self quarantine at home when possible and to wear face masks and practice social distancing.

“Accompanying our freedom to guide our own actions is an equal responsibility to slow the spread of this deadly virus … and save the lives of our neighbors and loved ones,” the document states.

“It is still dangerous and deadly, at no other times in our lives will our individual actions play a greater role in saving the lives of others, even strangers.”

The Acton-signed document notes that deaths from coronavirus are becoming a leading cause of death in Ohio, eclipsing 2018 motor vehicle deaths, and soon, deaths by suicide.

The initial stay-at-home order issued March 23 -- later extended to May 1 -- closed nonessential businesses and generally restricted Ohioans to travel to purchase necessities and tend to older and ill family members.

With the reopening of general offices, retail stores, restaurants, bars and other businesses permitting Ohioans to venture out, DeWine announced Tuesday that travel restrictions were being dropped.

While acknowledging the virus remains a real risk -- and encouraging continued social distancing, use of face masks and other precautions -- DeWine said Ohio could no longer afford not to work.

The virus-caused shutdown of large segments of Ohio’s economy has led to more than 1.1 million in unemployment claims, cratering personal and business finances and government tax collections, prompting budget cuts.

Ohio, the seventh-largest state, ranks 27th among the states in per-capita coroanvirus cases at 47 infections per 100,000 population. Ohio’s rate of 15 deaths for each 100,000 residents rates 16th in the nation.